Danger signal



Nov. 4', 1924.

J. F. SMILEY DANGER SIGNAL Filed Dec. 18, 1922 5 BIY SIGNMI DUNATEDE DEPARTMENT STURB E JOHN DUE Witvwoo Patented Nov. 4, 1924:.

J l,5l3.861

WI QFFIQE.

JOHN FIELDS SMILEY, OE Dl'iIi-LAS, TEXAS.

DANG-EB. SIGNAL.

Application filed December 18, 1922.

To all whom it may COflUWt.

Be it known that I, Jens F. SMILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Danger Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apperta-ins to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in adapted to be used along highways at dangerous curves and crossings, the object being to provi. an extremely simple and' ineXpensia-e device of this character, yet one which will be very conspicuous and hence effective, both in daylight and darlo ness.

In carrying out the shore object, a further aim is to provide novel means for attracting attention to the signal, this means being in the. form of a rotatable reflector which may either be positively driven or operated by wind. By the use of this re Elector, the intermittent and flickering rays of light are directed in the line of vision of vehicle drivers on the highway, whether the source of light be the sun or the headlights of the vehicles.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter here inafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section, showing one form. of danger signal.

constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view as indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation, as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation showing a modified form of construction.

In carrying out my invention, I prefer to use some form of hollow base, two forms of which have been shown. In Figs. 1 to 3, I have disclosed a base 1 which consists of a vertical rectangular frame 2 and a pair of sign plates 3 secured to opposite sides thereof to display any desired information, such as a warning and an advertisement. The base may be supported in any desired manner, but-I prefer that it shall be rigidly Serial No. 607,695.

mounted on the upper end of a suitable 1. shown in Fig. l is of less he base 1 and is intended to be a different manner. as will be a ter .lescribed.

" e case may 1 be, are two suitably sl. .ndards 5 both of which are prefei rmed of pipe, the upper ends of ti rds being utilized to support a la using 6 provided with suitable col- "s T which are here shown as .carmovable rims 8 so that access may to the electric signal bulb 9 located the casing. The current supply l0 for the bulb 9 preferably pass -ne of the standards 5 from a suitll which is located within the e and carries any desired switch shown) for controlling the curth bulb. While the bulb may be L hob duringdaylight and at night, preferable that it shall function only at it. v i or illuminating the sign plates 3, I prefor to mount a pair of side lights 12 at the upper portion of the base and these lights may either operate intermittently or continuously, as desired.

Between the lower portions of the standards 5, I have shown an open horizontally elongated frame which is disposed in vertical plane, this frame being indicated by the reference numeral 13. The ends of this frame are preferably secured to the standards 5 as indicated at 14 while the lower side of said frame is mounted upon a suitable bearing member 15, this member being secured to the top of the base and having a bearing center or socket 16 above which I preferably locate a pocket 1'? to contain lubricating oil. A reflector 18 is rotatably mounted within the frame 13 and is, in the form of construction shown, provided with a depending bearing pin 19 engaged with the socket 16 and an upper bearing pin 20 which passes through an opening in the upper side of the frame.

It is to be understood that the reflector and its mounting means may be of any desired form and that any suitable provision may be made for rotating this reflector so as to direct rays of light in the line of vision of drivers traveling along the highway.

During the daytime, the source of light acting on the reflector 18 willof course be the sun, but at night the headlights of approaching machines will be reflected. Furthermore, as the ends of the reflector 18 swing out slightly beyond the lenses 7, colored rays of light from said lenses, will be reflected.

In the form of construction shown, the reflector 18 is provided with vanes 21 to be acted on by air currents, to utilize them for rotating the reflector. This reflector is preferably formed from a single elongated metal plate bent into 3-shape in upper edge view, so that the ends ofthe plate form the vanes 21, the latter being convex on one side and concave on the other side, so that the rays of light will be reflected in a very To produce reflecting surfaces on opposite sides of the plate, it may well be nickel-plated.

In Fig. 4, I have shown one of the arms 5 provided with brackets 22 adapted to be suitably secured to a telephone pole 4 or to any other desired support.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and inexpensive danger signal, yet one which will be highly efficient and in every way desirable, both at night and day.

Excellent results have been obtained from the general construction shown and described, and this construction may therefore be followed if desired. .It is to be understood however that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made. I

I claim:

1. A danger signal comprising a base, a pair of vertically disposed spaced standards rising therefrom, a signal light carried by the upper ends of said standards, an open frame mounted between the lower end portions of said standards, and a reflector including wind vanes rotatably mounted in said frame. 1

2. A danger signal comprising a base, a pair of vertically disposed standards rising therefrom in spaced relation, a signal light carried by the upper ends of said standard-s, an open frame mounted between the lower end portions of said standards, said frame being provided intermediate its ends at points opposite one another with openings,

a lubricant cup mounted on said base beneath the lower opening in said frame, and a reflector disposed in said frame and provided with opposed journals extending through said openings for rotatably mounting the reflector, the lower journal extending into said cup to receive lubrication.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

JOHN FIELDS SMILEY. 

